Herodotus wrote:

Have just been looking at some Utube footage on sailboats, hydroponics
at sea etc.

It seems that every second nautically minded person posting calls
himself "Captain Jack" or Captain someone or other.

I think generally it is how one refers to a guy on a boat when you
don't know his name.

The first time I ever heard it was the first time we took our boat out
by ourselves after we bought it and we were having trouble getting
back into the PO's slip because of a side wind and having to back in.
The people from the fuel dock said "Captain permission to come aboard"
before they leapt onto the boat from a neighboring boat.

There are, of course, Captains in the armed forces. I used to coach
swimming for a Navy base age group swim team. Some of the men who
were stationed there would help out and some even swam with the team
as masters swimmers. I did have one Captain - a ranking Navy officer
who helped with the young beginning swimmers.

There was also an Air Force Captain who swam masters swimming and he
would swim at some of the meets with us to get times he could submit
for the national meets. I think he set a national Masters long
course record in the 200 breast stroke. The kids would cheer him on by
saying "GO Captain". This caused some surprise among the parents who
were used to the rank of Captain in the Navy being quite a senior
rank. The kids called him Captain even after he made Major. "GO
Major" just didn't have the same ring to it.

Just curious as to how many fellow boatees add the title in front of
their names.

I simply cannot imagine introducing myself as "Captain Peter" or
"Captain Panaengotis". I'm not a professional mariner who has worked
up from 3rd mate to command.

Captain Bruce von Bangkok and Captain Larry or even Captain Vic de la
Kafe don't sound as ridiculous even if a little pompous.

Does the title come with a US boating qualification or is it assumed
with boat ownership as is the weekend boater's cap with "Captain"
emblazoned loudly and the gold leaves of an admiral of the fleet?

If so, I'll adopt the title of Nakoda - means the same but has the
romantic flavour of Joseph Conrad about it - and I'll wear a sarong
and songkok for authenticity.

Any thoughts Larry, Bruce, Captain Vic? - if you can manage to get
your face away from your coffee cup.

BTW, for those with less than perfect teeth. Just got new dentures,
top and bottom - quote in Sydney, Australia - AUD$2,000. My dentist in
Panglima Garang, Malaysia (between Banting and Kelang) who is Sydney
University trained charged RM 700 - AUD $214. I also bought new
eyeglasses for myopia and astigmatism - first pair including tinted
plastic lenses, script and hardening coating - AUD $60. Second pair -
same but bifocals - AUD $40. They are not cheap looking frames and are
made in Japan with sprung hinges.

My dentist had three receptionists/nurses. I offered to buy one of his
women but he wanted too much for each of them.

Work out the price of a holiday to Malaysia with effectively free
dental care (crowns, caps dentures, fillings etc) and eyeglasses.

It may be a developing country but is not third world and is very
safe, even for people who speak poor English with a slow drawl.

cheers
Peter